AFL, AFLPA reach mutli-year deal beginning in 2012

The Arena Football League has been saved. There will be a 2012 season.

The players were considering possibly striking again after having a short work stoppage right before the first game of the season. The Pittsburgh Power and the Orlando Predators had to use replacement players.

Football

But both the league and the AFL Players Union have reached a multi-year agreement on Sunday night. However, not all the terms of the deal have been released. They are expected to come in the next few days.

Both sides, which included AFL Commissioner Jerry B. Kurz and AFL Players Union Executive Director Ivan Soto, had extensive meetings this past weekend in Chicago. The sides executed a term sheet, which has ended the labor dispute.

The full-length CBA is expected to be signed by both parties this Wednesday.

“I would like to thank both the AFL Labor Committee and the executives of the AFLPU for the long hours they have put in over many months, but most especially the last two days to get this deal done,” Commissioner Kurz said. “I would also like to thank our fans. We know how upsetting any disruption to the sport you love can be and we want to thank you for your patience and understanding.

“This has most certainly not been an easy process, but it has been a necessary process to help the Arena Football League continue to move in the right direction for our teams, players and fans. We look forward to turning our full attention back to the game on the field and enjoying the 25th season of Arena Football.”

The players have been saying throughout the entire season that they were under paid. They were making $400 dollars per game, while the three selected franchise players make $1,000 per game.

The players may get a pay increase, but they will not make what they used to make before the work stoppage in 2009.